Numerous Dona Ana County 4-H members were top finishers at the event. The following Dona Ana County 4-H members placed in the novice category:

Avery Ledesma, novice finals all-around champion, first place in goats, second place in flags and third place in poles

Weslynn Reno, reserve novice all-around, first place in breakaway, second place in goats and fourth place in barrels

Trista Martinez, first place in barrels and third place in flags

Alexis Massey, first place in flags and second place in barrels

Peyton Stone, first place in poles, third place in barrels and fourth place in flags

Cade Martinez, first place in steer stopping

Peysen Taylor, second place in steer riding

Bailey Massey, third place in goats

Kylee Jo Sanchez, fifth place in poles and sixth place in barrels

Jordyn Wamel, sixth place in flags.

In the junior category, Jocelyn Massey was the reserve all-around champion, and she finished first in goats and second in both barrels and poles. Lauren Stone finished first in poles, and Bladen Reno earned first place in breakaway and second in ribbon roping. Jayde Wamel finished first in barrels and sixth in poles, while Raquel Weatherley finished fourth in barrels. Jamee Middagh finished fourth in team roping-heading and sixth in tie down. Amy Weich finished fifth in barrels. Arden Gardner finished fifth in ribbon roping and sixth in team roping-heading, while Brooke Beil finished fifth in poles.

In the senior category, Trey Marable finished second in bulls, and Samantha Wagner earned third place in goats. K-Von Jimenez and Emilie Parra had fourth-place finishes, in team roping-heading and poles, respectively. Justin Prouty finished fifth in ribbon roping.

Rick Richardson, New Mexico 4-H Youth Development interim department head, said participating in the rodeo benefits the youth in several ways.

“For one, it builds responsibility, teamwork and sportsmanship,” Richardson said. “They learn other life skills as well, including record book-keeping, engaging in healthy competition and subject-matter skills, such as writing and veterinary skills.”

In order to qualify for the state rodeo finals, participants must attend at least three of the 10 rodeos held during the summer, and they must acquire at least one point in any of those three rodeos.

The state rodeo featured 102 participants ages 9-to-19 from 21 New Mexico counties.

Rodeo scholarships were awarded to 4-H participants Kylie Butterfield of De Baca County, Raul Perea of Luna County and Makayla Richardson of Dona Ana County.

The event concluded with an auction and awards banquet Sept. 6.

For more information about New Mexico 4-H Youth Development, call 575-646-3026 or visit aces.nmsu.edu/4h